Accessories for automatic washing machines



Sept. 11, 1962 D. T. BOX 3,053,417

ACCESSORIES FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed March 21, 1960INVENTOR. Dub/.EY 7. Box

M 8, WM

ArraR/v EY Patented Sept. 11, 1962 nic . 3,053,417 ACCESSORIES FORAUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Dudley T. Box, 115 W. 4th St., Corning, NY.Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,229 3 Claims. (Cl. 22276) The presentinvention relates to automatic clothes Washing machines and particularlyto apparatus cooperative therewith for introducing additives to washwater or to the water therein preferably while the feeding of the washwater thereinto is taking place. Ordinarily such additives will comprisea soap or a detergent and a bleach, although the particular additive oradditives used is entirely a matter of choice.

In an automatic washing machine, a washing cycle is initiated by theoperation of a valve to supply wash water thereto and which valve isclosed when a predetermined quantity of water has been fed to themachine, usually as accomplished by maintaining such valve open for apredetermined lapsed time. It is the most common practice to actuatesuch a valve magnetically, as by a suitable solenoid associatedtherewith.

It is well known that the use of excessive amounts of certain soaps anddetergents in washing machines produce excessive suds which may not onlyforce their way into the operating mechanism and thereby do great damagethereto, but may also flood the area exterior of the machine thuscreating untidiness and possible floor damage.

With the adoption of unattended laundries for use by the public itbecomes extremely important that all possible be done to assure properoperation of such machines.

According to one form of the invention one or more containers foradditives are associated with a machine, and upon the discontinuance ofthe supply of wash water to the machine, receive predetermined measuredquantities of additives from suitable supply sources. When the machineoperating cycle is again initiated by the introduction of wash waterthereinto the contents of such containers may be automaticallydischarged into the machine or, alternatively, their discharge may beplaced under the cotrol of the person using the machine. In the latterinstance also discharge of the containers must be effected while wateris being supplied to the machine.

According to an alternative form of the invention concurrently with theopening of the wash water supply valve of the machine an additive supplyvalve under control of a timing device, whose operation may be manuallyinitiated, is made available for operation to feed an additive to themachine from a suitable supply source for a predetermined period, afterwhich it is automatically disabled.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates apreferred form of apparatus embodying the invention and contacts of anautomatic washing machine that are closed to initiate its operation, andFIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates an alternative fonn of the inventionand washing machine contacts that control the same.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing in detail, contacts 21 are those of atypical automatic washing machine that close the circuit of a watersupply valve magnet to open its valve. Such magnet usually completes alocking circuit for itself through break contacts of a switch that isoperated to the open position when Water has been introduced into themachine for a set time period.

Associated with the machine and arranged at a convenient level to feedadditives thereinto by gravity is a container such as 15 conveniently inthe form of a funnel. Container 15 is supported at one end of a lever 16pivoted at 17 and having its other end provided with a weight 18adjustable lengthwise of the lever to determine the weight of additiveto be accumulated in the container. Lever 16 in the region betweencontainer 15 and the pivot 17 is provided with a vertically disposed arm20 having a horizontal extension 20 for a purpose to be described later.Pivoted to arm 20 is one end of a valve plug operating link 22 and whoseother end carries a plug 23 cooperative with the end of an additivesupply pipe 24 so that a valve is thus formed for controlling the supplyof an additive from pipe 24 to the container 15 as permitted by weight18.

The bottom of container .15 is normally closed by a plug 25 arranged onthe lower end of a stem 26 which freely passes through a bar 27 and atits top end has an enlarged lifting element 29. The bar 27 is normallyheld in the position shown by a spring 31 connecting it with the core ofa solenoid 30. The rightward depending end 32 of lever 27 overlaysextension 20' of lever 16 so that when the bar is turned about its pivot28, as occurs through the energization of solenoid 30, lever 16 is heldin the position shown irrespective of any effect the weight 18 mightotherwise have on lever 16. .With contacts 21 closed an operatingcircuit is prepared for solenoid 30 that may be completed by operationof a push button 14. Such circuit extends from an X terminal of asuitable current source through solenoid 30 and contacts 35 of a pushbutton .14. As will also be observed with the bar 27 turned about itspivot by solenoid 30, a bushing 33 is adapted to close a pair ofcontacts to close a locking circuit for solenoid 30 independent of thecircuit established through contacts 35. As will be further observed thecontainer 15, as shown, has the necessary quantity of additive therein(liquid soap, for example) to over come the effect of weight 18 and tomaintain the plug 23 sealed against the end of pipe 24.

In the operation of the form of apparatus shown in FIG. 1, following theclosure of contacts 21 of the machine, an attendant may empty thecontents of container 15 into the machine by momentarily pressing button14 to, at contacts 35, close the traced circuit through magnet 30.

Magnet 30 upon becoming energized, through its spring 31 tilts bar 27clockwise about its pivot 28. Bushing 33 thereupon closes contacts 60 tocomplete the traced locking circuit for magnet 30.

At the same time bar 27 engages the valve stem head 29 thereby liftingplug 25 free of the bottom outlet of container 15 to empty the contentsof such container into the machine, as for example via a funnel 39 andconduit 40.

Also the bar 27 in its tilted position has its depending portion 32lowered into engagement with extension 20' of lever 16, therebypreventing the weight 18 from tilting such lever clockwise and thuswithdrawing plug 23 from seating relation with pipe 24 while theadditive issues from container .15.

At the termination of the washing machine filling cycle, at which timecontacts 21 again open, magnet 30 becomes de-energized therebypermitting the bar 27 to restore t its initial position. As this occursthe plug 25 is permitted to again seat itself over the bottom opening ofcontainer 15. Also the depending portion 32 of bar 27 again moves clearof extension 20' of lever 16 thereby permitting it to rotate clockwiseabout its pivot 17 under the influence of weight 18. At the same time,stem 22 withdraws the plug 23 from seating relation with pipe 24, thuspermitting fluid to 'be fed therethrough to container 15 until itsweight becomes sufiicient to overcome the effect of weight 18 and thusrestores the plug 23 to the position shown.

'In the alternative arrangement, shown in FIG. 2, a

conduit 224 extends directly from an additive supply source to themachine and contains a normally closed valve 223 having an operatingwinding 225 included in a circuit closeable by contacts 235 of a pushbutton 214', or contacts 236 of a magnet 230 of an associated timingmechanism T. Mechanism T is under the joint control of machine contacts211 and contacts 235 of a push button 214 corresponding to contacts 21and 35 of FIG. 1 and times the period of opening of valve 223. The timerT specifically comprises contacts 227 adapted to be moved to their openposition by a motor M after the lapse of an adjustable predeterminedtime period and to be instantly restored upon de-energization of theassociated electromagnet 230.

After contacts 211 of the machine have closed, the operation of thetimer T may be initiated 'by momentarily depressing push button 214-,thus completing a circuit from a terminal X of a suitable current sourcethrough contacts 211 and magnet 230 to a conductor 231, also throughcontacts 227 and motor M to such conductor and through winding 225 ofvalve 223 to conductor 231 and thence through contacts 235 to a Yterminal of such current source, thereby effecting the operation ofmagnet 230, motor M and valve 223. Valve 223 thus opens to supplyadditive to the machine during the operation of the timer T for thepredetermined time for which it has been set. Magnet 230 at contacts 236completes a locl ing circuit for itself independent of push buttoncontacts 235, thus assuring continued operation of the timer through itscycle independent of manual control. At such time that contacts 211open, the circuits through the timer motor M and magnet 230 areinterrupted and contacts 236 and 227 restore to their initial positions,but this ordinarly will occur after the timer has completed its cycle.

Obviously in an unattended laundry, where operation of the machines isinitiated by depositing a coin, the person using the machine is givenaccess only to the buttons such as 14, or 214.

As will be further understood, various adaptations of the apparatusother than shown are contemplated by the invention. For example,although the illustrative embodiments show apparatus most suitable foruse of liquid additives, obviously the same may be readily modified foruse of powdered materials. Also if it is desired to introduce anadditive automatically by apparatus such as illustrated in FIG. 1 theparts such as 30, 33, 6-9 and 35 may be omitted and the spring 31directly placed under tension by the magnetic valve of the machine whenoperated to open such valve. Under such circumstances filling of acontainer such as 15 will also occur at the termination of the fillingportion of a cycle of the machine as in the instant illustration, butrelease of its contents into the machine will occur upon thecommencement of a filling cycle. Similar results can be obtained by useof the apparatus of 'FIG. 2 omitting button 214, its contacts 235 andthe contacts 236, and directly connecting a Y terminal of the currentsource to lead 231, thus effecting energization of magnet 230 at thecommencement of a fill cycle and its de-energization at the end of suchcycle.

As will be understood for each additive to be made available to amachine a separate apparatus such as shown in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2must be used.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for use in combination with an automatic washingmachine wherein a valve is opened to supply washing water thereto andclosed when a predetermined level of water has been attained therein, acontainer having a bottom opening, a plug closing said opening, a hingedlever at one end of which said container is supported, a weight carriedby the other end of said lever, an additive supply line available tosaid container including a valve, a linkage between the containersupported portion of said end of said lever operable to close theadditive supply line valve when a pre-determined weight of material hasbeen accumulated into said container, means operated concurrently withthe opening of the washing machine water supply valve to lift the plugfrom the container opening to release its contents into the machine, andmeans for preventing the weight from returning the container to itsempty position and the reopening of the valve in the additive supplyline until the washing machine valve is closed.

2. In an assembly useful in combination with an automatic washingmachine wherein a device is operated to open a wash water supply valveand to close said valve when a desired amount of water has beenintroduced into such machine to discontinue the supply of wash waterthereto, means for supplying a predetermined charge of an additive tothe wash water being introduced into such machine, said means includinga magnet having an operating circuit partly completed when the device isoperated to introduce water into the machine, manually operable meansfor thereafter completing the circuit of said magnet, a locking circuitfor said magnet closed by said magnet and opened when the valve isclosed to discontinue the introduction of water into the machine, andmeans activated by said magnet when the introduction of water into themachine is discontinued to prepare said second specified means to supplya subsequent predetermined charge of additive to the machine.

3. In an apparatus for use in combination with an automatic washingmachine wherein a valve is opened to supply water thereto and closedwhen a predetermined level of water has been attained therein, acontainer having a discharge opening, a plug seated over said opening, aline for supplying an additive to said container including a valve, amagnet having linkages to said plug and valve for lifting said plug fromits seat when the machine valve is open and for at such time holding thevalve of such linkage positively closed, means for opening the valve insaid additive supply line when the machine valve becomes closed and forreclosing such valve when the container has been recharged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,954,261 Pierce Apr. 10, 1934 2,116,778 Brayer May 10, 1938 2,682,984Melikian July 6, 1954 2.948,437 Nielsen Aug. 9, 1960

